Vintage Publication Spotlight #16

The latest entry in an ongoing series devoted to magazines of the past.

I remember buying Record magazine on a regular basis back in the 1980s, and a quick scan through the pages reveals why. A visually appealing monthly magazine put out by Straight Arrow Publishers, Record covered alternative acts as well as the mainstream.

This issue, from May 1984, featured the latest lineup for The Pretenders on the front cover, and Chrissie Hynde’s band also nabbed the top slot on Record’s Top 100 albums chart with Learning To Crawl. Other LPs on the list were Synchronicity by The Police at number 4, Under a Blood Red Sky by U2 at number 20, and Speaking In Tongues by Talking Heads at number 40. There were also feature articles on Cyndi Lauper, Thomas Dolby, Don Felder, and Pete Townshend’s little bro, Simon.

A music video column described the ZZ Top’s clips as “comic and spectral,” and also gave a nod to Aldo Nova and The Kinks. Apparently, UB40’s video for “Labour Of Love” tapped into the violence and frustration within modern England and was banned by shows like Top Of The Pops. Record reviews included Milk And Honey by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 1984 by Van Halen, and 99 Luftballons by German ein-hit wunder, Nena.

The Pretenders article, by Wayne King, covered how motherhood had changed Hynde; introduced new members Malcolm Foster and Robbie McIntosh; and offered a Pretenders Almanac that traced the band’s history back to Hynde’s arrival in London in 1973.

Single Paragraph Potpourri

Here’s a new feature that will serve as sort of step-sibling to That Was A Long Time Ago, Dearie, with randomly chosen paragraphs from reviews I’ve done in the near or distant past. All of this copy originally appeared in the Illinois Entertainer.

The Pretenders - Last Of The Independents

When the infectious energy of “Night In My Veins” first hit the airwaves, it marked the return of one most unique voices in modern rock. As lead singer of The Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde has always possessed the ability to alternate between punk aggression and motherly concern. She juggles both expertly again on Last Of The Independents, the band’s first release in four years.

The Godfathers - More Songs About Love & Hate

The band’s third U.S. album continues to pump out the venom, though like Birth, School, Work, Death, there are plenty of melodies to go around as well. The Godfathers have realized they can’t build a career on slogans alone, and have developed into accomplished songwriters. “Those Days Are Over,” “This Is Your Life,” and “I’m Lost And Then I’m Found” are prime examples of The Godfathers’ ability to provide muscular music for their messages.

The Posies - Frosting On The Beater

The second full-length album from The Posies finds the Seattle band forsaking its amazing ability to mimic The Beatles and The Hollies in order to establish a stronger identity of its own. Credit singers and guitarists Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow with having the courage to move on. “Dream All Day,” the first track on Frosting On The Beater, establishes the new direction by adding a harder edge to the band’s usual melodic approach.

The Chills - Submarine Bells

It’s not every band that records songs with titles like, “Effloresce And Deliquesce” or “Part Past Part Fiction,” but lead vocalist Martin Phillipps keeps things from getting too eggheaded by supporting his intellectual lyrics with hummable melodies. Like Squeeze and XTC, The Chills are masters of clever wordplay.

Viva Fidelity!

Photo from JP Chrissie & The Fairground Boys MySpace page.

Note: The is post number 200 for this blog. I'd like to thank my wife Pam for setting it up for me. As I've said in the past, without her help, I'd be walking around, showing people my reviews on a chalkboard.

Chrissie Hynde seems to have a knack for collaborating with other musicians. Her vocals played an essential role in conveying the inspirational message of “Spiritual High (State Of Independence)” by Moodswings, and she joined forces with UB40 on the sexy “Breakfast In Bed” as well as on a fun cover of Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe.” Heck, even her continuing reign as leader of The Pretenders could be viewed as a series of collaborations, considering the variety of genres she has successfully explored and the number of members who have been part of that band.

Now she’s created JP Chrissie & The Fairground Boys, along with Welsh singer-guitarist JP Jones. Chicago-area fans probably weren’t aware of Hynde’s latest project since it has only made a handful appearances in the Los Angeles area. That changed today when Hynde, Jones, and guitarist Patrick Murdoch dropped by WXRT today for a visit with DJ Frank E. Lee. The band played three songs from an upcoming CD called Fidelity. According to Hynde and Jones, the title is a pun on Fidel Castro since the band recorded the bulk of the CD in Cuba.

The songs performed in XRT’s studio this afternoon had spare, acoustic arrangements that would have sounded at home on the last Pretenders effort, Break Up The Concrete. It’ll be interesting to hear how these tunes sound with the full band when Fidelity drops later this summer. Hynde’s unmistakable voice led the way, but she traded lead vocals with Jones, and did some harmonies with him. The title track was the most energetic.

Hynde and Jones conceded they’re reversing the common method of promoting a new album, by performing gigs before its release. Still, they enjoy the freedom of doing things their own way. “Let’s get out there and do what we want to do,” Hynde said, describing the band’s approach.

They’ll be performing more shows in the near future. When Lee asked if the band might go back into the studio to tweak some things on Fidelity, based on the live shows, Hynde dismissed the idea.

“We’re already working on the next album.”

Talk Of London Town

The recent release of the Live In London CD/DVD set triggers a rush of memories concerning The Pretenders. Their 1980 self-titled debut shook the world by mixing elements of punk and classic rock, and established Chrissie Hynde as a songwriter whose lyrics could sting as well as comfort. I still remember being at parties or bars and hearing people shout some of her classic lines as a song like “Precious” or “Tatooed Love Boys” blasted on the stereo. Hynde’s amazing vocals enabled her to convey a wide range of emotions.

The Pretenders had the good fortune to arrive just as rock videos were at the height of their popularity. Hynde’s commanding presence, combined with imaginative imagery, established the band’s reputation for making enticing videos, from the touching story of the lonely waitress in “Brass In Pocket” to The Avengers parody of “Don’t Get Me Wrong.” I have several VHS tapes and DVDs of rock bands, but never seem to watch any of them as much as I do The Pretenders Greatest Hits, which offers 20 clips from throughout the band’s career.

Over the course of three decades, Hynde has maintained her edge. The tragic loss of two members early on could have brought about the demise of The Pretenders, but she soldiered on and continued to create great music. Live in London, which was recorded during The Pretenders’ 2009 tour, shows Hynde at full power on classics like “Back On The Chain Gang” as well as newer material like “Boots Of Chinese Plastic.”

I’ve seen two live performances by The Pretenders, and both came by winning WXRT contests. One was at the Rosemont Horizon in 1994, and had the added benefit of a stellar opening set by the Chicago power pop trio, Material Issue. And about a year ago, I encountered the band in a more intimate setting at The Martyrs club in Chicago. Although at times the event felt more like hanging out with Hynde and her mates at a rowdy party than watching an actual concert, it was a fascinating opportunity to get a close up view of one of rock’s all time great artists.

Santa’s Grab Bag - Part Two

Santa graphic taken from the cover of New Wave Xmas CD

Christmas Eve is a perfect time to take a peek into Santa’s sack and see what musical goodies are stored in there. Here are a few more songs of the season submitted for your approval.

“Winter Wonderland” - Hello Dave The 1994 CD A Hello Dave Christmas With Friends aimed to raise funds to help children afflicted with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Imagine your car breaking down on a deserted country road while you’re driving to some party on Christmas Eve. You walk to the nearest open venue, which happens to be a rustic bar. Hello Dave is onstage and has the local townsfolk up and dancing to its Country & Western versions of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Silent Night,” and other classics. “Winter Wonderland” rocks to the loping bass lines played by Willis Potocki and some spirited harmonies from vocalist-guitarist Mike Himebaugh and vocalist Paul Bolger. You call for a tow truck, but while you wait for its arrival, you’re having a great time.

“We Wish You A Merry Christmas” - The Daugherty McPartland Group Several years back, a friend and I dropped by the apartment of a couple we knew for a holiday visit a few days before Christmas. It was a Sunday night, and they had the WXRT show Jazz Transfusion playing on the radio. Maybe I was just in a festive mood, but those spirited jazz versions of holiday songs really made an impression on me. Acoustic Christmas, released by The Daugherty McPartland Group in 1996, has that same easy going vibe. Tim Daugherty’s fluid piano playing takes center stage throughout the CD, but Dennis McPartland on percussion, Bob Thompson on saxes and flutes, and Jim Munro on bass are also impressive. People who enjoyed Vince Guaraldi’s score for A Charlie Brown Christmas will find a lot to like here, and in fact, “Christmas Time Is Here” is included on Acoustic Christmas. “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” is both classy and fun, and like all of this CD, it's the perfect soundtrack for a friendly holiday get-together.

“Double-0-Santa” - Seks Bomba The 2002 holiday compilation 50,000,000 Elves Fans Can’t Be Wrong lives up to its title with a variety of fun tracks, and “Double-0-Santa” by the Boston based band Seks Bomba is one the best. This lounge tune mixes the concepts of a Secret Santa and a secret agent, with humorous results. “Mistakes are bad for business, says the man called Father Christmas, AKA Double-0-Santa,” vocalist-guitarist Chris Cote reveals over a slinky guitar and keyboards arrangement. Santa isn’t too cool accept snacks, but it should be understood that he likes his “egg nog stirred, never shaken.”

"Thanks For Christmas" - XTC Few bands can match the Brit trio XTC when it comes to crafting songs with clever lyrics and indelible melodies. “Thanks For Christmas” stands out New Wave Xmas, a Rhino various artists compilation that also includes “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders and “Christmas Day” by Squeeze. Introduced with some triumphant horn playing, the catchy “Thanks For Christmas” finds XTC using gorgeous harmonies while creating scenes like Santa’s reindeer resting after a hard-working Christmas Eve, and ecstatic kids decorating trees. “It’s such a shame it’s only once a year,” the song notes. “Three hundred and sixty-four days full of doubt and fear/You’ve been saving your love up/Let it out/‘Cause Christmas is here.”

A Very Merry Christmas to everyone. May you receive all that you are hoping for this holiday, and give plenty in return.

Santa’s Grab Bag - A random sampling of some of the better Christmas songs around.

“Come Around” - Mindy Smith I first learned of this song in a column by Chicago Sun-Times rock critic Jim DeRogatis, who said it sounded like The Bangles. That’s all it took to reel me in. Appearing on Smith’s 2007 My Holiday CD, it offers ringing guitars and layered vocals in a catchy song that calls children, women, and men to celebrate Christmas by worshiping together.

“George Bailey” - Carolyn Sills It’s interesting to find how many current holiday songs mention It’s A Wonderful Life. Brooklyn-based singer-bass player Carolyn Sills goes them all one better by devoting an entire song to Frank Capra’s classic flick and its put-upon hero. Set to an inviting arrangement that mixes twangy Country & Western music with a bit of the 1960s girl group sound, “George Bailey” merrily whisks us off to Bedford Falls. Sills notes that the character won her over as a kid, and she makes references to the grubby little town he tried so desperately to escape, as well as some of its better known citizens, like Mr. Gower. “George Bailey, I’ll love you ‘til the day I die,” she sings on the chorus, echoing the words of Mary Hatch. “Every Christmas Eve, you make me cry.” The song is available on iTunes, and there’s also a very clever video for it on YouTube that uses vintage Betty Boop style animation. In addition to honoring It’s A Wonderful Life, Sills also performs the music of Patsy Cline with her band The Poor Man’s Roses, and she’s part of the blues/rock trio Boss Tweed.

The Pretenders - “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” Few singers in rock history could match Chrissie Hynde’s ability to kick the snot out of you one minute and give you a warm hug the next. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” which appeared on the charity LP, A Very Special Christmas Vol. 1 in 1987, remains one of the best versions of this popular standard. With its spare but luxurious keyboards and evocative vocals, it serves as the Dr. Jeckyl to the Mr. Hyde of “Tatooed Love Boys” and “Precious.” The Pretenders also created the touching Christmas ballad, “2,000 Miles,” which was released as a single and appeared on some holiday compilations.

“What’s This?” - Soundtrack of The Nightmare Before Christmas A musical sleigh ride of quick rhymes and clever imagery, the fully orchestrated “What’s This?” follows Jack Skellington through Christmas Town as he discovers a holiday that’s completely foreign to him. Jack, of course, is more accustomed to the gross and ghoulish trappings of his domain, Halloween. “What’s this?” he continually asks in amazement as he encounters snow, caroling, gifts and elves for the first time. “There are children throwing snowballs here/Instead of throwing heads/They’re busy building toys/And absolutely no one’s dead.” This song is one of the better parts of a thoroughly enjoyable movie.